Headley still dealing with biceps strain

SAN DIEGO -- Chase Headley's season of soreness continues. Already battling an achy right knee for much of the early going, the Padres' third baseman was out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive day Thursday with a mild right biceps strain as San Diego wrapped up its four-game series with the Rockies.

Despite the injury, Headley was able to notch a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning of the Padres' 3-1 loss.

Headley is confident he will avoid the disabled list, and manager Bud Black seemed to agree, though he noted that a couple more days of missed action will test that notion. In Headley's absence, Alexi Amarista has been starting at third. But beyond that, there really is no other option on the bench right now.

"We can hang in there as long as we pitch well enough to keep all of the games close and we don't have to make a lot of moves in a game," said Black, who met with general manager Josh Byrnes and assistant GM A.J. Hinch to discuss a variety of issues. "In the National League, it's difficult to play one man down."

That's when Black mentioned he figures the Padres can maintain without Headley for "five or six" days, but not beyond that. Headley felt the biceps strain while hitting in the cage before Wednesday's game, but he admitted that throwing has been a chore in recent days.

"It was fine until I really had to let one go," he said.

Headley surmises that compensating for his sore knee compromised his arm.

"When I'm right, I really use my legs to throw," he said.

But lately, he said, he hasn't had his legs under him. One benefit from resting the biceps is that his knee will also get time off.

"The knee is definitely getting better," he said. "I don't think it will be something that will be gone. We're going to have to stay on top of it for a bit of time."